Luis Bunuel Biography (1900-1983)

Born February 22, 1900, in Calanda, Spain; died of cirrhosis of the liver, July 29, 1983, in Mexico City, Mexico; son of Leonardo (a landowner) and Maria(Portoles); married Jeanne Rucar, 1934; children: Rafael (a filmmaker) and Juan Luis. Avocational interests: Classical music and entomology. Career: Writer, producer, and director. Worked as an actor and assistant toJean Epstein in 1926; language dubber for Warner Bros., in Paris, France, 1932-34, and in Spain, 1935; executive producer in Spain, 1935-36; technical advisor for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Hollywood, CA, 1938; assistant on anti-Nazi film projects for Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, 1940; film-maker for U.S. Army, 1940-43; language dubber for Warner Bros., in Hollywood, CA, 1944-46.Awards, Honors: Golden Ariel, 1950, and Best Director, Cannes Film Festival, 1950, both for Los Olvidados; best avant-garde film award, Cannes Film Festival, 1951, and Golden Ariel nomination, 1953, both for Subida al cielo; Golden Ariel, 1954, for Las Aventuras de Robinson Crusoe; Golden Ariel nomination, 1955, for Ensayo de un crimen; Special International Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival, 1958, Bodil, best non-Europeanfilm/best American film, 1958, both for Nazarin; Special Mention, Cannes Film Festival, 1960, for La Joven; Golden Palm, Cannes Film Festival, 1961, for Viridiana; Bodil, best non-European film/best American film, 1962, for El Angel exterminador; Special Jury Prize and FIPRESCIAward (tied), National Society of Film Critics Awards, 1965, both for Simon del desierto; Pasinetti Award, best film and Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival, 1967, Bodil, best European film, 1967, all for Belle de jour;Order of the Yugoslav Flag, 1972; Academy Award, best foreign language film,1972, NSFC Award, best director, 1972, Academy Award nomination (shared), best writing, story and screenplay based on factual material or material not previously published or produced, 1972, BAFTA Film Award nomination (shared), best sound track, best direction, and best screenplay (shared), 1974, all forLe Charm discret de la bourgeoisie; NBR Award, best director, 1977, NSFC Award, best director, 1977, for Cet obscur objet du desir; AcademyAward nomination (shared), best writing, screenplay based on material from another medium, 1977, both for Cet obscur objet du desir; Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival, 1982. Addresses: Office: c/o Greenwich Film Production, 72 Avenue des Champs-Elysees, 75008, Paris, France.